Congressional pressure mounts on CMS to reconsider pathology reimbursement cuts

CMS released proposed rules earlier this year that, if enacted, would result in incredibly significant cuts to pathology reimbursement.  As a result of significant lobbying efforts by both organized pathology and grassroots labs, letters have recently emerged from both the House and Senate that ask CMS to reconsider implementing these devastating cuts. ACLA is actively fighting further reduction to reimbursement for laboratories and pathologists and recently helped get support from lawmakers in stopping cuts proposed by CMS as part of its physician fee schedule rule. A total of 115 representatives and more than 30 senators signed on to a letter sent to CMS administrator Marilyn Tavenner opposing the cuts. The letter notes that the proposal to cap payments for anatomic pathology services at the hospital outpatient prospective payment system levels would result in cuts of 26 percent to independent laboratories. In addition to the above efforts, CMS received 10,220 public comments on the proposed rule through its website.